Call for Applications for the 2017 SAG-SEED Awards

Eco-inclusive start-up enterprises that are solving pressing local issues by integrating social and environmental benefits into their business models can apply for the 2017 SEED Awards, which opened for nominations today.

Winning enterprises will receive a tailor-made business support package. Over a period of 6 months, they will be offered expert advice on further developing their business plans, individual workshops targeted at their needs, high‑level profiling of their enterprises and access to an international network of businesses, governments and development institutions.

Selected by an independent jury of international experts, winners will receive their awards at the SEED’s high level national dialogue forums.

This year, SEED has opened the call for applications for 15 SWITCH Africa Green (SAG) – SEED Awards for enterprises in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa and Uganda. Supported by the SWITCH-Africa Green project, which is implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with the assistance of the European Union. The SAG-SEED Awards in South Africa will be co-financed by the Government of Flanders.

The deadline for applications is 8 March 2017, 23:59 Central African Time (CAT).

Alternatively, the application form can be downloaded and sent to seedawards2017@seed.uno. Applicants may also contact SEED by email or phone (+49 89 2488307 14) should they not be able to submit their application electronically.

SAG-SEED Award Winners in 2016 included an enterprise in Uganda that manufactures affordable ceramic water filters which is made from local resources and materials and by local labour; a Ghanaian enterprise that provides information and services needed by farmers like best agronomic practices, weather data, literacy training and market prices through its developed mobile software technology; an enterprise that collects, sorts and upcycles all types of waste products in Mauritius; and an enterprise in Burkina Faso that manufactures quality natural fertilisers from water hyacinths and organic waste.